The Little Office of Our Blessed Lady
Vespers
When the sun has set and Vesper, the evening star, has appeared, the Church offers up another Canonical Hour to God, that of Vespers or Evening Praises. The hour for the evening sacrifice of incense in the Temple was 6 P.M. and it was also at this time that Our Lord at the Last Supper instituted the Sacrifice of the Mass. The prayers of Vespers are said very appropriately, therefore, as praises of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
V: Hail Mary,full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
R:Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
V: Incline unto my aid O God.
R: O Lord make haste to help me.
V:Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost.
R:as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end, Amen. Alleluia.
Psalm 109.
God is to be praised for His regard to the poor and humble
The Lord said unto my Lord, * Sit thou on my
right hand:
2 Until I make thine enemies * thy footstool.
3 The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion: * be thou
ruler, even in the midst among thine enemies.
4 Thine shall be the dominion in the day of thy power, amid the
brightness of the saints : * from the womb before the day
star have I begotten thee.
5 The Lord sware, and will not repent, * Thou art a priest for ever
after the order of Melchisedech.
6 The Lord upon thy right hand * shall wound even kings in the day
of his wrath.
7 He shall judge among the heathen; he shall fill the places with
the dead bodies: * and smite in sunder the heads over divers
countries.
8 He shall drink of the brook in the way; * therefore shall he lift
up his head.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
Psalm 112.
God is to be praised for His regard to the poor and humble
Praise the Lord, O ye his servants; * O praise
the Name of the Lord.
2 (all bow) Blessed be the Name of the
Lord * from this time forth for evermore.
3 From the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same, *
the Lord's Name be praised.
4 The Lord is high above all nations, * and his glory above the
heavens.
5 Who is like unto the Lord our God, that hath his dwelling on high,
* and beholdeth what is lowly in heaven and in the earth?
6 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, * and lifteth the needy
out of the dung hill.
7 That he may set him with the princes, * even with the princes of
his people.
8 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, * and to be a joyful
mother of children..
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
Psalm 121.
The desire and hope of the just for coming of the kingdom of God,
and the peace of His Church
I was glad
† at the things that were said
unto me, *
†† We will go into the house of
the Lord.
2 Our feet shall stand * in thy gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built as a city * that is at unity in itself.
4 For thither did the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord, *
to testify unto Israel, to give thanks unto the Name of the Lord.
5 For their seats have sat in judgment, * even the seats upon the
house of David.
6 O pray for the peace of Jerusalem; * they shall prosper that love
thee.
7 Peace be within thy walls, * and plenteousness within thy palaces.
8 For my brethren and companions' sakes, * I spake peace of thee.
9 Yea, because of the house of the Lord our God, * I have sought to
do thee good.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
Psalm 126.
Nothing can be done without God's grace and blessing.
Except the Lord build the house, * they labour in vain
that build it.
2 Except the Lord keep the city, * the watchman waketh but in vain.
3 It is vain for you to rise up before the light : * rise ye after
ye have sitten, ye that eat the bread of sorrow.
4 When he giveth his beloved sleep : * behold, children are the
heritage of the Lord: the reward, and the fruit of the womb.
5 Like as the arrows in the hand of the mighty, * even so are the
children of the them that have been shaken.
6 Blessed is the man that hath filled the desire with them; * he
shall not be confounded when he shall speak with his enemies in the gate.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
Psalm 147.
The Church is called upon to praise for His peculiar graces and favors to
His people
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; *
praise thy God, O Sion.
2 For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates, * and hath blessed
thy children within thee.
3 Who hath placed peace in thy borders, * and filleth thee with the
fat of the crops.
4 Who sendeth forth his commandment upon earth,
* and his word runneth swiftly.
5 Who giveth snow like wool, * and scattereth the mist like ashes.
6 He sendeth his ice like morsels: * who is able to abide before the
face of his frost?
7 He shall send out his word, and shall
melt them: * his spirit shall breathe forth, and the waters shall flow.
8 Who declareth his word unto Jacob, * his statutes and judgments
unto Israel.
9 He hath not dealt so with every nation; * neither hath he given
them knowledge of his judgments.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
Ant. Holy Mother of God, Mary ever virgin, intercede for us with the Lord our God. Mother of God, intercede for us.
Little Chapter
ECCL. 24
Like a vine, I gave forth a sweet perfume like cinnamon and aromatical
balm:
I yielded an odor of sweetness, like the choicest myrrh.
R: Thanks be to God.
Hymn:,Kneel for the first stanza
Hail, O star of ocean,
God's own Mother blest,
Ever sinless Virgin,
Gate of heaven's rest.
Taking that sweet Ave,
Which from Gabriel came.
Peace confirm within us,
Changing Eva's name.
Break the sinners fetters,
To the blind give day,
Ward all evils from us,
For all blessings pray.
Show thyself a mother,
May the Word Divine,
Born for us thine infant,
Hear our pray'rs through thine.
Virgin all excelling,
Mildest of the mild,
Free from sin preserve us,
Meek and undefil'd.
Keep our lives all spotless,
Make our way secure,
Till we find in Jesus,
Joys that shall endure.
Praise to God the Father,
Honor to the Son,
Be the glory one. Amen.
V: Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
CANTICLE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
The
Magnificat
Luc. 1. 46-55
My soul * doth
magnify the Lord.
2 And my spirit hath rejoiced * in God my Saviour.
3 For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden : *
for behold, from henceforth * all generations shall call me blessed.
4 For he that is mighty hath magnified me; *
(Here all make a profound reverence) and holy
is his Name.
5 And his mercy is on them that fear him * throughout all
generations.
6 He hath shewed strength with his arm; * he hath scattered
the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
7 He hath put down the mighty from their seat, * and hath
exalted the humble and meek.
8 He hath filled the hungry with good things; * and the rich
he hath sent empty away.
9 He remembering his mercy * hath holpen his servant Israel.
10 As he promised to our forefathers, * Abraham and his seed
for ever.
11 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy
Ghost.
12 As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, *
world without end. Amen.
During
Advent
Ant.
O Virgin of virgins, how will this be done! For thou art seen to have
none like thee either before or after. Ye daughters of Jerusalem, why
look ye at me in wonder? This mystery which ye see is all divine.
V: O Lord, hear my prayer.
R: And let my cry come unto Thee.
O God, Who wast please that, at the message of an angel, Thy Word should take flesh from the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant that we, Thy suppliants, who truly believe her to be the Mother of God, may be helped by her intercession with Thee. Through the same Christ our Lord.
R: Amen.
From first Vespers of Christmas to first Vespers of Purification
Ant. O wonderful intercourse! the Creator of human kind, taking unto Himself a living body, vouchsafed to be born of a virgin; and coming forth amongst us, a man without human generation bestowed upon us His divinity.
V: O Lord, hear my prayer.
R: And let my cry come unto Thee.
O God, Who through the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary, hast given to mankind the reward of eternal salvation, grant, we beseech Thee that we may feel the intercession she makes for us, through whom we have been made worthy the Author of Life ,Christ our Lord.
R: Amen.
From the Purification to Easter Sunday
During Paschal Time
Ant. O Queen of heaven, rejoice , alleluia; for He Whom thou didst merit to bear, alleluia, hath risen as He said alleluia; pray to God for us, alleluia.
V: O Lord, hear my prayer.
R: And let my cry come unto Thee.
.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we, Thy servants, may enjoy continual health of mind and body; and that, through the glorious intercession of blessed Mary, ever virgin, we may be delivered from present sorrow, and enjoy eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord.
R: Amen.
From Trinity Sunday to Advent
Ant. Holy Mary, succor the miserable, help the faint hearted, comfort the sorrowful, pray for the people, plead for the clergy, make intercession for the devout female sex.
V: O Lord, hear my prayer.
R: And let my cry come unto Thee.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we, Thy servants, may enjoy continual health of mind and body; and that, through the intercession of blessed Mary, ever virgin, we may be delivered from present sorrow, and enjoy eternal hapiness. Through Christ our Lord.
R: Amen.
DAILY COMMERATIONS
OUR HOLY FATHER, SAINT DOMINIC
Ant.
O great and holy Father, Dominic, at the hour of death take us to thyself, and
while here regard us always graciously.
V: The mouth of the just man shall speak wisdom.
R: And his tongue shall speak judgment.
O God, Who didst vouchsafe to enlighten Thy Church by the merits and teachings of Thy blessed Confessor, Our Father Dominic, grant through his intercession that it may never be destitude of temporal help, and may always increase in spiritual growth. Through Christ our Lord.
R: Amen.
SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA
Ant. May the virgin, Catherine, cherishing us by her merits, lead us to the throne of the heavenly kingdom.
V: The sparrow hath found herself a house.
R: And the turtle dove a nest for herself, where she may place her young.
O God, Who didst enable blessed Catherine, graced with a special privilege of virginity and patience, to overcome the assaults of evil spirits, and to stand unshaken in the love of Thy holy Name, grant, we beseech Thee, that, after her example, treading under foot the wickedness of the world and overcomming the wiles of enemies, we may safely pass onward to Thy glory. Through Christ our Lord.
R: Amen.
ALL THE SAINTS OF THE DOMINICAN ORDER
Ant. The holy grace of Christ hath exalted the saints, whom the Order of Father Dominic has raised up. We beg to be helped by their merits and to be commended to God by their prayers.
V: The wisdom of the holy the peoples shall speak.
R: And their praise the Church shall proclaim.
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the examples fo the saints of our Order may incite us to a better life; that we may imitate the deeds of them whose memory we celebrate. Through Christ our Lord.
R: Amen.
ALL SAINTS
Ant. All ye saints of God vouchsafe to make intercession for our salvation, and for that of all.
V: Pray for us, all ye saints of God
R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that all Thy saints may pray for us unceassingly, and vouchsafe in Thy clemency to hear them. Through Christ our Lord.
R: Amen.
FOR PEACE
Ant. Give peace, O Lord, in our days, because there is no other who will fight for us, except Thee, our God.
V: Let peace be in thy strength.
R: And abundance in thy towers.
O God, from Whom are holy desires, right counsels, and just works, grant to Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that our hearts being devoted to Thy commandments, and the fear of enemies being taken away, the times may, by Thy protection, be peaceful. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who with Thee liveth and reignth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R: Amen.
V: O Lord, hear my prayer.R: And let my cry come unto Thee.
V: Let us bless the Lord.
R: Thanks be to God.
V: Hail Mary,full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
R:Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
